For years prior to opening Shine & Polish, we collaborated on side projects, freelance work that sparked our interest and combined our strengths. If something was outside our wheelhouse we would pull from our extensive network of talented creatives. This allowed us to build out teams to suit specific project needs and styles. Clients were happy because they received a tailored approach and our creative partners were thrilled to have the flexibility.

When these jobs became more frequent and demanding, we thought – maybe there’s something here. And, so we went all in.

How did the partners meet?

The initial meeting was over a game of bocce ball at a Brooklyn dive bar. Words were exchanged, and two partnerships ensued – one of the marriage persuasion, the other in business form.

Why Denver?

We cut our teeth in New York City but when the time came to open a studio we wanted roots in a place that embraced a strong work-life-balance. Not only is Denver a growing, dynamic city but the people work hard and play harder. It’s not uncommon for someone to hit the slopes, get in a 10 mile trail run or go mountain biking before starting the workday. The mountains are constantly calling which reminds you to step away sometimes, keeping creativity high and burnout low.

Which work or brand are you best known for?

We recently had the pleasure of working with Boulder-based agency WorkInProgress to create the “World’s Most Remote Pop-Up Shop” which raised brand awareness for outdoor materials company 37.5 Technology. The project required us to build and create content around a storefront perched 300 feet in the air and only accessible by hardcore climbers. It received praise across the climbing community, media outlets and consumers alike – as well as a nice write up in Adweek.

What is the smartest work you’ve seen in the past year that didn’t come from your shop?

The Droga5 MailChimp Campaign. It took on so many forms. The spots were beautifully done and hilariously ridiculous, but it was the collection of cultural activations – MaleCrimp, WhaleSynth, SnailPrimp, etc – that put it over the top. It was subtle, charming and brilliantly executed.

What do you make of the trend where brands are skipping their agency of record to work directly with production partners?

We’ve seen instances where this works and others where it doesn’t. If you’re a brand that knows what want you want and have the network to make it happen, then going directly to the source is beneficial. Cut out the middleman and trim the fat. Personally this is how we prefer to work.

On the other hand, if you’re a brand in need of heavy strategic lifting, want help with the big idea, or lack the network to execute on the creative, then some hand-holding can go a long way – and may ultimately result in a better product.

Overall it’s just a matter of finding the right partner for you.

What is the best thing about working at Shine & Polish?

Collaboration and lack of ego at all levels. Everyone is a teamplayer and never above taking on a task, big or small, if it means reaching the end goal.

What does the future look like for Shine & Polish?

We’re continuing to grow, breaking into new markets and cultivating new clients. Content is our bread and butter, and content is still king. So we plan to make a boat load of it.

Adtech platforms were a game changer for the digital advertising industry. But when they first came on the scene, brands and agencies didn’t have the technical know-how to fully leverage the technology. That caused delays in launching ad campaigns. Which is a bad thing in an industry where launching fast and often is the key to success. We saw the potential to create these awesome brand stories. The technology, creative and data were all there. Brands and agencies just needed a production partner that could turn their ideas into reality. And that’s where we fit in.

Why Miami?

Miami is the unofficial capital of Latin America. And our first clients were Miami-based agencies that worked with clients in Latin America. So, it made sense to set up shop here. But, then we realized Miami enabled us to serve a broader market. Most digital production agencies are based in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The competition is intense and the rents are high. Those costs get passed along to clients. Miami is still flying under the radar and that enables us to provide top-quality services at competitive rates.

What was the most technically challenging work you’ve created?

When cross-screen experiences first became a thing, we built a high impact ad that connected users’ phones to their desktop. They could control the desktop banner from their phone. At the time (this was a few years ago), building that ad required every ounce of technical know-how we had. Now we’re building 360 experiences, game ads, interactive landing pages and more for our clients. But, we still remember that first high impact ad!

How has the business changed since you started?

Flash was king of the digital display advertising world when we started Digitaland. Now, with a few exceptions, the baton has passed to HTML5. The upside: HTML5 is more secure, has cross-screen capabilities and it lets brands tell better stories with more interesting (and interactive) ads. The downside: HTML5 is resource-intensive. Most brands and agencies don’t have the in-house capabilities to build out their ads, which is why a good digital production partner is crucial to building a successful, sustainable campaign strategy.

What emerging tech trend will have the biggest impact on your business?

We hear it all the time (and you probably do, too):“Advertising is dead.”“Audiences are banner blind.”“Creative doesn’t really matter. It’s all about targeting.”

But the pundits are wrong. Advertising is very much alive.
Consumers are just tired of low-quality, irrelevant and intrusive ads. That’s why we think a return to craft and high-quality creative will be the next ‘big’ thing in digital display advertising. Brand strategy that treats consumers as partners instead of data points will drive the next great wave of ads.

What do you make of the trend where brands are skipping their agency of record to work directly with production partners?

Brands are realizing their biggest asset – the thing that helps them stand out in a sea of competitors – is their voice. That can get lost as it passes through layers of approvals and bureaucracy within brands and their agencies. Working directly with production partners gives brands more creative control, conserves budget, reduces red tape and enables brands to rapidly test ideas. We think the real question is, why didn’t this trend happen sooner?

What is the best thing about working at Digitaland?

It may be cliché, but it’s the truth: our team feels like family. And that’s no accident.
We’ve worked hard to build a team of A players. Every new hire is schooled on the crucial role we play in helping our clients launch on-time, on-budget campaigns. We practice what we preach, so there’s accountability built into every facet of the production process. The pay-off is a tight-knit team of top-performers who know they can depend on their team members to deliver on every project, every time.

A clear and obvious need for innovation in the intranet space. We identified a way to offer organizations well-designed SharePoint Intranets for a fraction of the cost, and implemented in half the time.

How did the partners meet?

Otherwise known as the four founders – two married vampires and two married werewolves (yes, female werewolves exist). They met on a foggy October evening at a Microsoft SharePoint event. The werewolf couple, Michal Pisarek and Denise Ching, began a heated argument with the vampires, Matthew Carriere and Shereen Qumsieh over delivery methods for custom SharePoint Intranets.

After a few growls and hisses, the couples came to agreement on one market gap in the intranet space—That custom built SharePoint Intranets did not need to take years to implement, and cost organizations into the millions. Recognizing that most companies were looking for the same features and functionality in their corporate intranet, they set out in the first ever vampire- werewolf business partnership in history.

What was the first job someone hired you for?

Matt – “I had a paper route…I delivered the Province. But when I saw raccoons I would abandon my cart and run home. My second job felt a bit safer at the good ol’McDs.”
Shereen – “I taught seniors how to use computers and at times…a keyboard. My second job was also at McDonalds.”
Michal – “Growing up in Australia, the first thing I was ever paid for was to pick up kangaroo dumping’s in my parent’s backyard”.
Denise – “Someone hired me to help kids out at an arts and craft festival.”

What is the most notable trend in your industry?

Smart machine learning for digital workplaces. Just like we are fed relevant content in our social networking environments, we will be fed relevant, timely and intelligent corporate content that will help us make better day-to- day decisions at work.

What is the smartest work you’ve seen in the past year that didn’t come from your shop?

We’re a bit biased but hands down Bonzai Intranet. Two years ago it was the first out-of-the-box intranet solution built on SharePoint. Something that hasn’t come from our shop within the past year, is machine learning on Microsoft Delve. Predictive algorithms help serve up relevant content for knowledge workers right in their digital workplace.

How has the business changed since you started?

More and more companies are selecting turn-key intranet solutions. In the next 1-2 years, industry analysts expect that 80% of intranet purchases will be out-of-the-box SaaS solutions. Knowledge workers of today expect to work with best of breed technologies that offer seamless and intuitive experiences. Out-of-the-box intranets or “digital workplaces” like Bonzai Intranet make it a lot more affordable for companies to offer this.

What is your biggest challenge at the moment?

Tech trend—smart machine learning for digital workplaces. Just like we are fed relevant content in our social networking environments, we will be fed relevant, timely and intelligent corporate content that will help us make better day-to-day decisions at work.

Challenge—To be frank, keeping up with demand for Bonzai Intranet. We have an amazing solution delivery team and are currently looking for talented people to help us grow fast. If you’re skills are extra spicy, apply within! We’re currently looking for a Development Manager and a Full Stack Developer.

What is the best thing about working at Bonzai?

Delicious food…all of the time. And beer. Michal Pisarek, Founder and Product Director at Bonzai, is a former head chef that worked for Gordon Ramsay. Let’s just say food options are selected by that of a foodie with world-class taste. There’s an actual thing called the D.O. 10…most employees have had to hit the gym that much harder to keep it off. Others have said “**** it!” and invest in a jean-size up.

Personally, a high-jumping injury in high school that introduced me to foot orthotics and the frustrating experience around it. But on a higher level, Shamil and I had been working with 3D printing tech and recognized the same opportunity to make custom goods for the body. Shamil was leading 3D printing strategy at HP, and I had a business 3D printing vintage car parts. Our idea for Wiivv was at the confluence of several trends for fashion, wearable tech, 3D printing, 3D scanning, and personalized health – the timing was perfect.

How did the partners meet?

We first met at the 2013 Inside 3D Printing Conference in New York. We found that we had a lot in common. We both attended Claremont McKenna College, but at different times, and our families originated from the same part of Tanzania.

Why Vancouver and San Diego?

Vancouver is a vibrant city with a good tech scene and the Pacific Northwest is ideal to build a tribe for an active lifestyle brand like Wiivv. In Vancouver, we have Lululemon, Arc’teryx, and RYU to name a few successful examples. It’s also where I grew up. San Diego has a strong ecosystem for 3D printing, so it made sense to set up our manufacturing there. Plus, let’s not forget the credibility the California-association gives our brand. We’re West Coast, from BC to SoCal!

What was the first job someone hired you for?

It was a campus job at Claremont McKenna College. We cold-called alumni and asked for donations to the college fund. Fun fact: Jillian, the wife of my co-founder, was my manager at that first job.

What was the most technically challenging work you’ve created?

The Wiivv team achieved a lot by building and shipping the BASE custom insole, our inaugural product. It’s the first of its kind for an end-to-end mobile solution to get a custom product. Being part of our platform’s development was the most technically challenging, but also the most rewarding. Our customers love the seamless experience.

Which project is your most underrated?

I think our work on biomechanics at Wiivv. Behind our cool technology and product is over two years spent carefully tweaking the design and validating the science to make BASE perfect for every individual customer. We have a team dedicated to biomechanics at Wiivv and a Science Advisory Board that includes luminaries like Dr. Jack Taunton, a pioneer in the field of custom footwear for athletic performance.

Who is your most interesting staff member?

We recently brought on Will Andrew to be our Chief Commercial Officer. He has decades of experience in the world of sports apparel and even won the bid for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games with Elevate Sport, a company he founded. We’re excited to be working with Will because of all the expertise he brings as we grow our distribution.

What is the smartest work you’ve seen in the past year that didn’t come from your shop?

The 3D Architech by UnderArmour. It’s a 3D printed shoe that isn’t custom for form, but is using 3D printing materials in a unique way to fit cross-training needs.

How has the business changed since you started?

We were fortunate enough to secure venture capital and that has allowed us to accelerate the growth of our business. Expectations are higher than ever because of the massive opportunity we’re addressing, but we’re up for the challenge.

What emerging tech trend will have the biggest impact on your business?

Consumers expecting personalization for everything they buy. People walking on their feet a lot as a result of Pokemon Go is also a factor.

What is your biggest challenge at the moment?

Continuing to build and optimize our tech stack. In the process, we’re also building a significant competitive advantage.

What is the best thing about working at Wiivv?

Our vision is compelling and great people from a bunch of different disciplines can rally around it and produce their best work. We’re changing how things are made and personalizing health – it’s difficult to not feel closely associated with that kind of reason for being.

Where is the best bar in Vancouver?

Well…the best juice bar would be Krokodile Pear. Our company is pretty health-conscious.

Any wild company party stories?

In our earlier days, we rented a house for a week in San Diego and had our whole team there. The highlight was a cook-off we had. In true Master Chef fashion, we had judges, secret ingredients, and the like. Our advisors and mentors judged the event. The founders, Shamil and myself, were assigned cleanup duty – an absolute nightmare. I think it took us 3 hours to finish.

Care to share a joke?

What does “foot pain” think of Wiivv?
>>> It sees it as its arch enemy.

What does the future look like for Wiivv?

We have big plans to conquer the world of custom footwear. We’ll expand our insoles line to address a variety of use cases, and also venture beyond insoles. We want to build a strong ecosystem where consumers see Wiivv as the choice solution to get custom gear for the body.